announcements
CENTRAL FLORIDA OUT+ABOUT
CONGRATULATIONS Will’s Pub celebrated 26 years on Sept. 1. MojoMan Swimwear & Clothing celebrated two years at its Colonial Plaza location Sept. 7. Trixie Deluxxe’s Charity Bingo at Hamburger Mary’s Orlando helped to raise $1,250 for the LGBT+ Center Orlando Sept. 9
2
Rock Hard Fitness helped to raise more than $1,900 for Equality Florida during its third annual Community Sweat fundraising event Sept. 12.
RESEARCH STUDY Three of the nation’s largest blood centers — Vitalant, OneBlood, and the American Red Cross — in partnership with the LGBT+ Center Orlando are seeking participants to join a new groundbreaking FDA-funded study in Orlando to consider new approaches for determining blood donation eligibility for men who have sex with men. If you are a gay or bisexual male between 18-39 years old and interested in becoming a blood donor, you may be eligible to participate. To gather the necessary data the blood centers are partnering with LGBTQ Centers in eight cities across the nation. The study looks to enroll 250–300 gay and bi men in Central Florida who meet the study eligibility criteria.
1
3
5
6
LOCAL BIRTHDAYS Stonewall Bar DJ JB Burgos (Sept. 16); Hamburger Mary’s Orlando Broadway Brunch Bunch founder Jimmi Rossi (Sept. 17); Glamorous socialite Bill Jansen, Favorite allyJustice Mitchell, Priority One Financial’s Steven C. Lewis Jr. (Sept. 18); Flight of Ideas’ Bob Kodzis (Sept. 19); Disney manager of corporate alliances Jason Dobbins, Dr. David Rice at Eola Eyes, “DJ Trypsin” Gabe Medina (Sept. 20); Old Town Kissimmee general manager Thearon Scurlock, Hogwarts student Heather Murphy, Walt Disney Port Orleans Resort lobby concierge Gerry D. Evans, Animal advocate Ziggy Shockley, Orlando Gay Chorus creative director James Rode, Orlando artist and comedian Angela Ramos, JLD Communications founder Jose Luis Dieppa (Sept. 21); Orlando sister “Isadora Knocking” Morris Beverly (Sept. 22); Former board president of The Pride Chamber Lu Mueller-Kaul, former Watermark art director Charlie Carballo (Sept. 23); Former President at Florida Theatrical Association Ron Legler, Orlando photographer Angie Folks (Sept. 24); Southern Nights Orlando’s Christopher Bishop, Orlando chef Nathan Shifflett, Project Manager at Disney Kevin Thornton (Sept. 25); Orlando performer Eddie Cooper, Orlando performer Janine Klein, Keep Orlando Beautiful coordinator Jody Goostree, graphic artist Jarrod Pope, Watermark’s formerdirector of digital media Jamie Hyman (Sept. 26); Central Florida State of Gratitude grant recipient Kevin Voeltz, Darden Restaurants’ social media strategist Jeff Alexander Giordano, Dapper Duck owner Chuck Zell (Sept. 28).
4
1
DISNEY FUN: (L-R) Noelle, Tanya and Angie Blasingame dress up and head to Walt Disney World Sept. 10. PHOTO COURTESY TANYA BLASINGAME
2
READY TO FLY: Geyson Rosario (L) and trainer Drew Sizemore celebrate Geyson’s completion of five weeks of flight attendant training at JetBlue University Sept. 7. PHOTO COURTESY DREW SIZEMORE
3
SWEAT FOR A CAUSE: Rock Hard Fitness and Equality Florida team up for a Community Sweat fundraiser at Rock Hard Fitness in Orlando Sept. 12. PHOTO COURTESY ROCK HARD FITNESS
4
STAYCATION ADVENTURE: Reiner Wolf (L) and Steffen Brandt take a ride on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Sept. 5.
5
MORNING JOE: Ben Johansen shows off his rainbow mug at Embellish FX in Orlando Aug. 31. PHOTO
COURTESY BEN JOHANSEN
6
FLOWER POWER: Andrea Montanez (L) and Joél Junior Morales work on a project at The Acre Orlando Sept. 8. PHOTO
COURTESY ANDREA MONTANEZ
7
SHOW READY: (L-R) Twila Holiday, Risa Risque, Kirsty Liana Rimmer and April Fresh grab a photo at Secrets Hideaway Resort & Spa in Kissimmee Sept. 7. PHOTO
7
COURTESY LOC ROBERTSON
8
MATCHING NECKLACES: Bobby Hermida (L) and Kim Murphy show off their shrinky dink necklaces in Orlando Aug. 21. PHOTO
COURTESY BOBBY HERMIDA
PHOTO COURTESY REINER WOLF
8 watermark Your LGBTQ life.
SEPTEMBER 16 - 29, 2021 // ISSUE 28 .19 WAT E R M A R KONLINE .COM
41
